What ℗ means
It claims rights in the recording itself, not the song. The P stands for phonogram, the formal word for a sound recording. When someone records a new version of a song, that recording can have a different ℗ owner from the writer or publisher of the composition. In music credits, the ℗ line, often called the P-line, names who controls that recorded version. It usually gives a year and an owner, such as a record label.
The symbol exists to separate recorded audio from the work being performed. It appeared in the notice rule of the Rome Convention in 1961; this international treaty protects performers, record producers and broadcasters. The symbol then entered U.S. sound-recording law in 1971. In the United States, a notice became optional for works published on or after March 1, 1989. The P-line still tells you who claims ownership of a recording.
This is industry and legal language used on releases, label copy, liner notes and audio metadata.
℗ does not, on its own, claim rights in the song, lyrics, cover art or liner notes.
Part of collections
Don't confuse it with
3
Combination ideas
3Questions people ask
2Does ℗ protect the song itself?
No. It covers one particular recording. The song and its lyrics can have a separate copyright and a different owner.
Why does ℗ look different in different fonts?
Your font draws it. The P and the circle may change size or thickness from font to font, but it is still the same symbol with the same legal meaning.
More like this
12
Collections with ℗
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How to type or find ℗
- Also called
- phonogram symbol · P-line · P in a circle
- Search it as
- p line · phonogram · p in circle · circled p · record copyright · master rights · recording rights
- Shows up in
- Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws
℗\2117Codes and encoding1 code points
A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.